The Star Pine Lodge is surrounded by the green hills and the mystic forests of the natural park of Sintra & Cascais to the east and the deep blue Atlantic Ocean to the west. The surrounding is so diverse that they would have to write a book about all the things you can see, experience and discover here. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, then you won’t find it anywhere. That's Star Pine Lodge's promise.
Beaches
The extensive Praia Grande and its little sister the scenic Praia Pequena with its steep cliffs are only a short walk from Star Pine Lodge. Great beaches for surfing. Here, you find little restaurants, snack bars as well as a surf shop. Take a short bike ride or a 20-minute walk and you get into Praia das Macas, a nice little beach with a little village that offers restaurants, little grocery stores, bakeries and cafes.
Besides these, more well-known beaches the area also has some more hidden bays on offer, where even on a summer Sunday you will hardly find any people, if you don't mind a little hike down the cliffs. In a radius of 30 kilometers to the south / east (Cascais / Lisbon) and north (Ericeira), you find dozens of more beaches, bays and reefs offering perfect conditions for all kinds of water sports.
Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
The Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais, spreading out from the mountains of Sintra to the beaches of Cascais, represents a unique diversity of landscape and without doubt the most breathtaking region in Portugal. It includes sand dunes, a rugged coastline with high cliffs and sandy bays, dense forests and calm lakes, with the majestic Serra de Sintra overlooking it all. The centuries-old symbiosis of manmade Sintra and the surrounding nature has gained the whole area the status of UNESCO cultural heritage.
It is in its approximately 145 square kilometers where most of your activities take place, and where you never stop to marvel at the countless historical and natural wonders.
Sintra
15 minutes inland from Star Pine Lodge lies Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic town has been a summer residence for the Portuguese Royal families from the 14th to the 20th century and thus there are several impressive royal buildings to visit. Dominating the city's center, you find the Palacio Nacional, with its two famous conic chimneys. On top of the Monte de Pena, you can see the fantastic 19th century Palacio da Pena from as far away as Lisbon. Surrounded by a beautiful and exotic garden, this combination of Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic and Neo-Renaissance architecture is a must-see and the view of the surrounding area will blow you away.
The remains of the Castelo dos Mouros, the Castle of the Moors, date back to the 8th century, the period of Arab occupation of the Iberian peninsula. Nowadays, the ruins of the castle invite the visitor to get lost in time and enjoy the majestic view from its ancient walls. Brightly illuminated at night it still seems to protect the city of Sintra.
Further sites not to be missed include the Palacio da Regaleira estate, a romantic palace and chapel surrounded by four hectares of park, featuring fountains, lakes, grottoes and wells and declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, or the Palacio de Monserrate with its laid back park, where you find one of the richest botanical gardens in Portugal.
Cabo da Roca
Cabo da Roca, as part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, marks the western most point of mainland Europe. Its impressive cliffs reach up to 140 meters above sea level and the stunning view over the Atlantic ocean gives a real end-of-the-world feeling. 16th century Portuguese poet Luis de Camoes honored Cabo da Roca as the place "where the land ends and the sea begins".
Some hidden beaches and amazing tracks around the cliffs allow for your own little discoveries.
Cascais / Estoril
The coastal towns of Cascais and Estoril are culturally and naturally rich and offer innumerous sight-seeing attractions. Great shopping, beaming nightlife and the Casino of Estoril, Europe's largest casino, add to the attractions of these twin cities in the Greater Lisbon subregion.
Colares
Colares is a little traditional village a short bike ride from the camp. A nice place to have a coffee and enjoy its quiet charms. In Star Pine Lodge Portugals opinion, it is one of the nicest small towns in the area where Portugal is still Portugal.
Lisbon
The Portuguese capital is one of the oldest cities in the world and less than a 40-minutes drive from Star Pine Lodge. Rich in architecture and culture, it is also a very vibrant city and a must-see for everybody coming to Portugal. It can be easily reached from the camp for a daytrip. Highlights include the view from the Castelo Sao Jorge on the top of the oldest district Alfama, a stroll through the shopping districts of Baixa and Chiado, a tram ride with the traditional Nr. 28, taking you up and down steep, narrow streets or the modern architecture of the Parque das Nacoes, with the Ocenarium, one of Europe's largest aquariums. And don't miss out on a night in Bairro Alto, a quiet neighbourhood during the day but turning into the center of nightlife after the sun has gone down.
Between Lisbon and Cascais, Star Pine Lodge suggests a stop at Belem, where you can visit the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, a huge monastery giving impressive proof of Portugal's former wealth and importance during the Age of Discoveries. Built in the 16th century, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Close by at the river shore, you find the Torre de Belem, a 16th century watch tower guarding the entrance of the river Tagus. UNESCO World Heritage as well, the Tower of Belem is one of Lisbon's famous landmarks. Once in Belem, don't forget to taste the world famous Pasteis de Belem! Finally, a visit to the top of Cristo Rei, the 80-meter tall Jesus statue on the hills on the south shore of the river, allows for a breathtaking view over Lisbon.
Nearby places:
- ATM - 7 minute walk
- Azenhas do Mar Beach, 3.5km
- Cascais - 25 minutes by car
- Colares Village (supermarket, butcher, pharmacy etc.), 3 km
- Lisbon Airport - 35 minutes by car
- Lisbon Center - 45 minutes by car
- Praia Grande Beach - 7 minute walk
- Praia Pequena Beach - 6 minute walk
- Praia das Maçãs Beach - 15 minute walk
- Sintra - 15 minutes by bus
- Praia das Macas (supermarket, fish market, pharmacy, etc.), 1.5 km
